Paris U13 girls cap season with competitive playoff run

Pictured left to right, back row, Brynlee Ross, Olivia Turnbull, Lucy Witt, Alissa Carr, Avery Peterson. Back row, Kennedy Rusnak, Briella McCauley, Hailey Kipp, Tessa Schiedel, Kaylee Carr, Addison Korslick and Alice McLagan. Absent: Reagan Deane.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Paris Youth Softball Association’s U13 girls wrapped up their season with a strong playoff showing, holding their own against some of the top teams in the Flamborough Minor Softball Association.

Playing in the Flamborough league for the first time this season, Paris finished the regular season with a 6-7-1 record, good for sixth place heading into the double-knockout playoffs.

That set up a first-round matchup against third-place Copetown, where Paris wasted little time showing it was ready for the challenge.

The bats came alive as Paris combined an offensive explosion with strong pitching to pull off a convincing 17-6 upset and advance in the tournament.

The victory moved Paris into a matchup against second-place Binbrook A. Paris once again proved it could compete with one of the league’s top teams, battling through a high-scoring contest before falling just short in a 13-11 loss.

Facing elimination, Paris met Lynden A in its third game of the tournament. 

The offence continued to produce, but Lynden ultimately came away with a 17-14 victory to bring Paris’ playoff run — and season — to an end.

Despite the two losses, Paris never had an easy draw. All three of its playoff opponents finished ahead of Paris in the regular-season standings, yet the sixth-place squad remained competitive throughout the tournament.

The playoff performance was a fitting conclusion to a season marked by considerable growth.

Newer players gained confidence as the season progressed and developed into increasingly productive contributors at the plate. Paris also benefited from strong and consistent pitching throughout the year, an important factor as the team adjusted to tougher competition in its first season in the Flamborough league.

Several second-year players helped lead the offence, delivering clutch hits in key situations, while the entire lineup showed determination and continued improvement throughout the season.